چالش‌های حکمرانی آب در ایران: بررسی علل و پیامدها از منظر داده‌بنیاد

مطالعه حکمرانی منابع آبی در علوم سیاسی از آن حیث ضرورت دارد که مدیریت موثر آب نه‌تنها برای توسعه پایدار اهمیت زیادی دارد، بلکه نقش مهمی در پیشگیری از منازعات بین‌المللی و تامین عدالت اجتماعی ایفا می‌کند. این پژوهش با هدف تحلیل جامع ناکارامدی نهادهای حکمرانی در حوزه منابع آب در ایران، از روش تحقیق کیفی تئوری زمینه‌ای بهره برده است. برای این منظور، با استفاده از مصاحبه‌های عمیق و نیمه‌ساختاریافته با کارشناسان و ذی‌نفعان اصلی و تحلیل محتوای کیفی، شرایط علی، زمینه‌ای و مداخله‌گر این ناکارامدی بررسی شده است. نتایج نشان می‌دهد که فساد اداری، عدم شفافیت اطلاعات و بی‌توجهی به مشارکت مردمی به‌عنوان عوامل علی اصلی، به‌طور مستقیم بر ناکارامدی نهادهای حکمرانی آب تاثیر می‌گذارند. علاوه بر این، ساختارهای اجتماعی و فرهنگی ناکارامد، نظام حقوقی و قانونی ضعیف و فقدان آموزش و آگاهی عمومی به‌عنوان شرایط زمینه‌ای، بسترهای مناسبی را برای بروز این مشکلات فراهم کرده‌اند. شرایط مداخله‌گر نظیر فشارهای سیاسی، تغییرات اقلیمی و بحران‌های اقتصادی نیز این وضعیت را تشدید می‌کنند. دو راهبرد اصلی کنشگران در مواجهه با این ناکارامدی، پذیرش و یا مقاومت شناسایی شده‌اند. پیامدهای این ناکارامدی شامل بحران‌های آبی، چالش‌های اقتصادی و اجتماعی، بحران‌های زیست‌محیطی و کاهش کارایی مدیریت منابع آب است. در پایان، پژوهش با ارائه توصیه‌های سیاستی جامع و عملی، راهکارهایی را برای بهبود حکمرانی و مدیریت منابع آبی در ایران پیشنهاد می‌دهد.

challenges of water governance in iran: analyzing causes and consequences from a grounded theory perspective

introductioneffective governance of water resources is of paramount importance due to water’s critical role in human survival and ecosystem sustainability. this governance encompasses the sustainable management of water resources, meeting the water needs of populations, protecting natural ecosystems, preventing water crises, and adapting to climate change. by utilizing scientific analyses and precise data, good governance can contribute to optimizing water use, preventing pollution and reducing vulnerability to climatic fluctuations. moreover, sound water governance promotes social equity and public participation in decision-making process of water resource management, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability, ultimately leading to sustainable development and environmental preservation. in this context, effective water resource governance is particularly critical in iran due to natural water resource limitations, uneven geographical distribution, and pressures arising from population growth and climate change. iran, with its arid and semi-arid climate, faces chronic water scarcity and drought crises, necessitating precise and sustainable water resource management. poor governance could lead to increased water pollution, a decline in groundwater levels, and the degradation of aquatic ecosystems. additionally, given the dependency of agriculture and industries on water resources, effective governance is essential for ensuring food security and economic development in the country. therefore, adopting comprehensive policies based on scientific data for optimal water resource management and crisis prevention will aid in conserving natural resources, improving quality of life, and achieving sustainable development goals in iran. thus, the main objectives of this research are as follows: examining the causal, contextual, and intervening factors contributing to the inefficiency of water governance in iran; identifying the strategies and approaches employed by social actors in response to the phenomenon of ineffective water governance in iran and analyzing the consequences of ineffective water governance in iran.methodologythis study employs a qualitative research methodology, specifically the grounded theory approach, to conduct a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the weaknesses of water governance institutions in iran. grounded theory, introduced by corbin in the 1960s, is a qualitative research approach that allows researchers to develop new theories from the collected data without relying on pre-existing assumptions or theories. the primary goal of this method is to derive theories and concepts directly from the data.findingsin this context, the analysis of structural and managerial weaknesses as the core category in iran’s water governance reveals that fundamental problems in this area are widely influenced by causal, contextual, and intervening conditions. from the perspective of causal conditions, administrative corruption, lack of information transparency, and disregard for public participation have led to an inefficient and unstable management environment. these weaknesses result in resource wastage, a decline in public trust, and an inability to meet the real needs of a society. regarding contextual conditions, social and cultural structures, an inefficient legal and regulatory system, and a lack of education and public awareness exacerbate management crises and hinder the implementation of effective changes. a culture of distrust towards official institutions and inadequate laws prevents governmental bodies from fulfilling their responsibilities properly. on the other hand, political pressures, climate change, and economic crises, as intervening conditions, impose an additional burden on existing managerial weaknesses, exacerbating the severity of water resource crises.